ENG vs IND 2025: 'Great captains are great communicators' - Greg Chappell urges Shubman Gill to develop leadership traits

Former India head coach Greg Chappell has encouraged Shubman Gill to grow into a more effective communicator in his role as captain, rather than relying solely on his performances with the bat. While Gill has made a strong impression with the bat in his first series as Test captain against England, India currently trail 1-2 in the five-match series.

Chappell emphasised that batting success alone will not be enough to shape a winning team. He noted that Gill must also focus on building a strong team culture and must clearly communicate with players to define leadership beyond just individual performances. Gill made headlines with a century in his debut match as Test captain, followed by a career-best 269 and another hundred in subsequent game.

"Great captains are great communicators. Gill must become one - and quickly. Whether it's at training, in the middle or in the dressing room during a break - clear, calm communication is essential. His bat can't always do the talking. He must learn to speak in a way that aligns the group, encourages belief, and creates trust," Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNcricinfo.

"The selectors and Gill must pick and stick. He must identify the core group of players he trusts, lay out a clear game plan, and communicate individual roles within it. Every player should know what is expected of them and where they fit in. Too often, in teams that struggle, players are left to work it out for themselves. That can't be left to chance at this level," he added.

Chappell also suggested that Gill should take greater responsibility in setting the tone for the team, both in terms of attitude and fielding standards. He stressed that a captain’s influence extends beyond runs on the board and into the energy displayed on the field. Despite enduring twin failures in India's defeat at Lord’s, the 25-year-old remains the leading run-scorer of the series by a significant margin.

"Gill must define what sort of team he wants India to be. The captain sets the tone - not just with words, but with actions, clarity of purpose, and visible standards. That means demanding discipline in the field. India cannot afford to slip back into being a poor fielding side. The best teams are superb in the field. They don't give easy runs. They don't drop chances," Chappell wrote.

Chappell acknowledged that the passion shown by Gill on the field during the Lord’s Test. The young captain engaged in a verbal exchange with England opener Zak Crawley at the end of Day 3, displaying a more aggressive side to his leadership. However, some observers felt that this aggression may have affected his focus with the bat, as Gill was dismissed for just six runs, trapped LBW on Day 5 in the second innings.

"The Old Trafford Test is shaping to be the biggest examination yet for Gill - not just as a batter, but as a leader. He's learning on the job, but the timeline is not generous. That doesn't mean he can't show emotion. In fact, his passion on the field at Lord's was good to see. But actions like getting into Zak Crawley's face over time wasting only matter if they are backed up by the hard work done behind the scenes," Chappell concluded.